qa_guy

Preface: Commute 2h 1-way to Chicago half of the week, remote the other half. Work in QA automation and am very good at what I do (finding bugs), in charge of a QA team. May have opportunity to work full remote and want to. I am deaf but have a cochlear implant - I can talk and hear well for the most part.

I communicate OK with my colleagues while at home on a 1:1 basis, talking over Slack or a video call. My weakness is in a group setting when I am remote. If I am present in person at a group meeting, my chances of understanding everything enough to answer QA related questions or enforce a culture of quality is high. While I am remote, it is hard to both raise my voice to get my words in and also very hard to understand everything people are saying in a group meeting. Even without group meetings, my level of contribution is high - but others feel differently and frequently want to schedule meetings with me being present in person. I feel that if I go fully remote, they will be unable to cope.

1. Are there strategies on how to minimize group meetings or otherwise make them a bit more directed? Is it awkward to do so just for one person (me) so I can perform better while remote?

2. In your experience, does working fully remotely impact my chances to keep being in charge of a team?

3. Do I even have a chance as a deaf person to find another remote QA job to keep doing what I do if this current job doesn't pan out forever?

I'm trying to find experiences with folks who have done any of those things:

- Worked remotely as a lead or have responsibilities related to "being in charge of a team"

- Worked with a remote deaf employee of any position

- Worked as a remote deaf employee of any position

Please offer your insights!